It is with great joy that I bring to you the wonderful news of a new work of art by Ruth Stricklin, The Holy Family. It has been unveiled and presented for the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese of Phoenix and this Year of the Family in which we remember the fidelity of Jesus and are urged to draw closer to Him in prayer and charity each day faithfully. This beautiful painting is being exhibited permanently in the Diocesan Pastoral Center.

The Holy Family by Ruth Stricklin, an artist of Phoenix, for the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese.

I want to share with all of you Bishop Olmsted’s address from August 22 at the Nazareth House for the unveiling of this painting which shows us how the Holy Spirit has been moving in our Diocese during this 50th Anniversary Year and The Year of the Family.

Bishop Olmsted’s Address on August 22, 2019 at the Unveiling of The Holy Family

Welcome to all of you this evening. So glad that you could be here! I have been looking forward to this for a long time. I am delighted that we can celebrate the completion of this image of the Holy Family and see its connection with the 50th Anniversary Year of the Diocese of Phoenix.

Sacred art can change hearts and inspire souls. In June, I had the privilege of traveling with the Friends of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Phoenix to California to visit two Cathedrals, which we do every year, we visit a Cathedral. So, we visited the new Cathedral in Orange, which used to be called a Cathedral, but it wasn’t, and now is the “Christ Cathedral” formally known as the “Crystal Cathedral.” Then, we visited the Cathedral in Los Angeles. But, the two places that most moved our hearts was the Mission of St. John Capistrano, which has the only chapel in which Fr. Junipero Serra –who founded these missions along the western coast –the only place still standing where he celebrated Mass, where he was present, he actually conferred Confirmation on 204 Indians in that Chapel.

The other one is San Gabriel the Archangel. That was the seventh mission founded by Junipero Serra: the first one he had not been personally present to start. He sent two of the Friars over there to do that for the Native American Indians. Unlike the previous times, when they arrived at the place, something frightened the natives; and they were threatening the Friars with what looked like violent actions. So, one of the Friars pulled out of his sleeve a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows. It is still there, we prayed before the image there. And, as soon as he showed it, the Indians fell to their knees in reverence before the image of Our Lady of Sorrows, this image.

As we were coming back, after the whole pilgrimage was over, on our way back into Phoenix out in Tonopah, I asked, “What was the most moving thing?” And what was mentioned most often: “Praying before the image of Our Lady of Sorrows.” This image is one where Mary is looking right up to her beloved Son in Heaven, and tears are flowing down her face. As you look at that image, what came to me was this: “There is no way that Jesus will say, “No!” to what she is pleading. This is His beloved Mother who stood at the foot of the Cross, who is there in His suffering, sharing the moment when He redeemed the whole world, and she is bringing to Him our intercession. That is what changed the Native Indians and became the most popular image in all the missions. In fact, they would take her from mission to mission as a way of helping people understand why we say, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” Im His su

Sacred art can change hearts and inspire minds. The Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph: Why would we do this for the 50th Anniversary Year? What makes this appropriate? First of all because the Patroness of the Diocese of Phoenix is Our Lady of Guadalupe. Already we have this great love for the Mother of God, and so, there was good reason to include her for sure for the Anniversary Year. Secondly, she is the most successful missionary in the Church ever. The most successful servant of evangelization is Our Lady of Guadalupe. Once she appeared to Juan Diego, and through him was brought to the native peoples of central Mexico, within five years, nine to ten million became followers of Jesus Christ. That is pretty successful!

With an incredible power that Mary has—her witness to Jesus—Our Lady of Guadalupe is the only image that was given to us by Mary. All the others that persons saw, like Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Czestochowa—they are all ones described through the artist, by the one who saw her, and the artists do the best they can to do that—which is no easy thing. Like St. Faustina described Jesus as Divine Mercy, and they kept throwing the artist out, saying, “That is not it. That is not it. That is not it!” But this one, Mary gave us herself. Juan Diego went before the Bishop, and he met the Friars and gathered at Mary’s request. When the flowers fell out from the tilma, in the middle of December—you didn’t have flowers except for burial—on the whole front of his tilma was Our Lady of Guadalupe. That image and Our Lady’s plea transformed those Indians. It stopped them from doing human sacrifice. The main sacrifice was their own children. They were convinced that if they didn’t kill one of their children and offer it to God, God would stop sending rain. So, they would do a sacrifice which would make them weep, and that would move God to weep and give them crops.

Our Lady made it clear that they did not have to do that because God had given us His only Son, who died for us, whose heart was pierced. Now, that is possible because the Mother of God allowed God to transform history. So, Our Lady of Guadalupe is connected very much with the family, with the healing of false notions of what God wants for worship and how great an impact that had on the mothers and fathers and their children five hundred years ago in 1531.

It seemed appropriate to have Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph and Mary, because Mary especially listened to the Word of God. God’s words—she trusted what God spoke. She trusted what God spoke to her through the Archangel Gabriel, which of course we have recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel. She surrendered her plans to God’s plans, which had to be totally changed, obviously, when she was engaged to Joseph, and then she was asked to be the Mother of God. The Holy Spirit came over her and overshadowed her. As she is the one who said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” Mary successfully evangelized the Word that she surrendered to.

There is Mary’s affirmation of marriage and family. Of the thirty-three years of Jesus’ life on earth, thirty of those were in the presence of Mary. Now, if it was my idea about saving the world and coming into human history, why would He wait until He was thirty, and only have three years of active ministry? What is happening here? What does that tell us about family life? What does that tell us about loving your husband, your wife, your child, your parents? Something is being revealed to us about Mary’s life—through Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus.

The first miracle that Jesus performed was at a wedding day, and Mary was there, and He did not intend to do this miracle, but, she said, “Son, they have no wine. They ran out of wine.” The last words recorded in Sacred Scripture of Mary are these: To the servants she says, “Do whatever He tells you.” Listen to Jesus. Do whatever He tells you. He breaks bread for the multiplication. He changed water into wine, which looked forward three years when He changed wine into His own blood, food for hearts and souls and bodies. And when Jesus died on the Cross, Mary was there.

One of the first things that I did to celebrate the 50th Anniversary Year of the Diocese was on the Feast of the Holy Family in December—it started on December 8th as the Diocesan celebration at the beginning of the 50th Year, and then on the Feast of the Holy Family, the 29th of December the last year, I issued an Apostolic Exhortation to the Husbands and Fathers, the Wives and Mothers of the Diocese of Phoenix, Complete My Joy. I thought it was important to talk about the fact that our Diocese, in its 50th year, to be successful to the mission we have in Jesus Christ, we need to love our wife. We need to love our husband. We need to love our children. We need to love our parents.

Mary’s life is for God to enter into human history in the lives that are formed and inspired in the Church. St. John Paul II said when he visited St. Louis in 1999, “As the family goes, so goes the nation.” The future of Our Diocese depends to the degree to which our local Church has healthy and thriving families. In this 50th Year, we have opened the Seminary. It’s right across the street. It is the former convent of this Parish, and we started nine days ago. We have the seminarians from there with us. Welcome! Great to have you with us! We called it the Nazareth House.

When we started the 50th Anniversary Year, I had no thought of starting the Seminary. It came out of reflecting, praying for the cleansing of our Church by the scandal of a year ago and a sense of what we needed to do at the local Church to address that scandal: to prepare spiritual fathers who would support husbands and wives, mothers and fathers of the Diocese. How do we begin that in the best way? It seemed like to have close to home, here in our Diocesan Family, the first two years of priestly formation would be very, very helpful. I see it as a gift of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I don’t know where else I got the idea, but it came to me about February 2nd, when Mary and Joseph got up to the Temple and present the child to God. That whole image is a very powerful image. It is a Solemnity in the Church because, it is such an important revelation of God entering into human history. There were many people in the temple that, only two people recognized Mary, Joseph and the child: both elderly, both persons of deep faith, and they were not surprised at all that He did not come as a conquering king or as a soldier, but as a babe carried by His mother and accompanied by His foster father.

We are not going to do a tour of Nazareth House tonight as some may wish to do. We have to keep it as a formation house so they have their own fraternal life, but I am so glad the Seminarians are here, Fr. Paul Sullivan (the Rector), and other members of the faculty. Some of you have asked how you can help. Tonight, there is information from the Church that you can pick up about Nazareth House; so, please do that. If you would like to make a 50th Anniversary gift to the Nazareth House, it would not be denied.

Sacred art can change hearts and inspire souls. When my mother was eleven, her mother died after a long battle with cancer. They took care of Grandma Nell in their home. She had a kind of cancer in her stomach that lasted 3 or 4 years before she died. My mom said, that when she died, she said to herself, “How can I go on without my mom?” Then, it came to her to walk down to St. Malachy Church, which she was very familiar with. She had the custom recommended by the Sister that taught her in the Catholic School to pop into the Church and kneel down and say, “Jesus, I love you!” Get up, run out and then enjoy recess! Sister had promised that some day you are going to come into that Church, but rather than you saying, “Jesus, I love you,” you will hear Him say to you, “Margaret Ellen, I love you.” That’s what she heard. Gazing on the Cross and the tabernacle, that’s what she knew was Jesus’ message to her. She then knew she could go on. It just changed everything. The beauty of the Church, the beauty of the presence of the King of the Universe in a little tiny box we call “the tabernacle” below the Cross.

Sacred art by intention changes hearts and inspires souls. Let us praise God tonight for coming to save us again in a family. Let us praise and thank Him for our moms and our dads, for our brothers and our sisters, for our parents and grandparents. Let us thank Him for the family of the Church, and especially our family in the Diocese of Phoenix. Let us give glory to God that we still have by God’s grace the gift of the beauty of marriage and family in our world.

I just want to say a word of thanks. I want to thank Fr. Paul Sullivan, Fr. John Minieri and all who worked so hard to make Nazareth House a reality. We just decided this three months ago. It totally transformed the old convent of twenty-two rooms of Sisters, into an incredible work of art. Of course, the Seminarians would say there is still a lot of work to do, and they are doing it! Thank you!

I want to say a special word of thanks to Ruth Stricklin, the artist of this painting. I have been privileged to get to know Ruth and see her other works of art. Certainly, it is God’s message to the Diocese. I want to say a special word of thanks to the Sacred Art Gallery for promoting sacred art here in our Diocese. This is really a gift for our Diocese, and the other artists that are here tonight as well, the artists who give us a little glimpse into the beauty of God which we need as much as getting a glimpse into the truth and the love of God. Dostoevsky said, “The world will be saved by beauty.”

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity celebrate 150 Years since their foundation; 88 Years of serving at St. Peter’s Mission in Bapchule, AZ on the Reservation!

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity w/ Franciscan Friars and the Native-Am Indian children.

The Sisters in a cottonwood tree!

Sunday, August 25th, Bishops Olmsted and Nevares, Deacon Jim Trant and I celebrated with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at St. Peter’s Mission in Bapchule, AZ. The Sisters celebrated their 150th Anniversary of their Institute, 61st Anniversary of Sr. Thereselle’s Vows, the 60th Anniversary of Sr. Carol and the 50th of Sr. Martha Mary!

The Bishops and Deacons process for Mass into St. Peter’s Mission Church on the Reservation.

Many blessings that I wanted to share with all of you! Thank you to our Jubliarians for your fidelity to Our Lord, committing yourselves totally in poverty, chastity and obedience. You are an inspiration to all of us as we strive to grow in holiness each day. Remembering the fidelity of Jesus, we pray for grace to live our state of life with fidelity.

Blessed Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross! Let us rejoice in the victory of Jesus Christ!

Your Sister in Christ,

Sister Anthony Mary Diago, RSM, Director of the Office of Consecrate Life

Whether you are called to live Religious Life, the Priesthood, married life or unmarried, we are each called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior:

Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Mt 16:24-28)

And how blessed by God we are as we follow a vocation to serve Him and His Body, the Church, whether we are spiritual mothers/fathers or expectant mothers/fathers:

God blessed our visit with the Sisters of Life during Mothers’ Day weekend with a rainbow over Sr. John Mary, Sr. Giovanna Mariae, Mother Agnes Mary and me.

Fr. John Lankeit blesses a baby in the womb after Mass on Mothers’ Day.

As we celebrate life given to God in the vocation of the Priesthood, Religious Life and married life expecting the birth of a child…we also celebrate birth into eternal life.

On March 2, Br. Gus Schloesser, OSC was born into eternal life at the age of 77.

Br. Gus W. Schloesser, OSC (1941-2019)

On Saturday, March 2, 2019, a Crosier Brother, Br. Gus W. Schloesser, osc, died at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. He was 77 years old.

The Crosier Fathers and Brothers mourn the loss of their confrere. Br. Gus William Schloesser, osc, was born in Jordan, Minnesota, to John W. and Ida Rose (Bauer) Schloesser on May 23, 1941. He attended South St. Paul High School and Nazareth Hall Junior College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and earned a Pastoral Ministry Certificate from the College of St. Catherine, also in St. Paul.

Br. Gus, osc, joined the Crosiers as a novice in 1962 and made his first profession of vows March 19, 1963, in Hastings, Nebraska. He professed solemn vows in Onamia, Minnesota, in 1969. His assignments and ministries centered around Crosier Religious Life as a member of the Crosier communities in Onamia, Hastings, Anoka, Shoreview and Phoenix, where he lived since 2004.

He served in many different capacities including director of food service for the Crosier Seminary in Onamia; director of the Christian Community Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana; associate vocation director and then province vocation director for the Crosiers; religious superior of the Crosier community in Shoreview; facilities director at Maryhill Retreat House in St. Paul; co-director of the Listening House in St. Paul; member of the Commission on Ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis; Crosier alumni associate director; rector of the Crosier Generalate in Rome and facilities manager at Crosier Village in Phoenix. Br. Gus enjoyed volunteering at Huger Mercy Living Center and coordinating efforts to stock a food pantry at Roeser Senior Village Apartments, both in Phoenix.

Br. Gus is survived by his brothers Stan, Rod and Jack, his sister Doreen Yezek and their families; his Crosier confreres and numerous friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Kenny and Terry and sister Geri. His wake and funeral were on March 7.

Sr. Gabby Marry, IBVM was born into eternal life on June 2, 2019 at age 79.

Sister Gabrielle Marry, I.B.V.M. (Marie Therese Marry) was the first baby born in the new Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland on January 18, 1940. She was the daughter of Austin and Bridie (Lenehen) Marry. She entered the Novitiate in Loreto Convent, Navan, on October 17, 1958. A few years later she came from Ireland to join the Sisters and staff of Ss. Simon and Jude School in Phoenix where she taught 2nd & 5th grades for a number of years. She also taught at Sacred Heart School in Prescott for some years and worked for a time at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Flagstaff as a Pastoral Associate.

Sister Gabrielle held a B.A degree in History/English from University of San Diego and an M.A. in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Arizona and retained a great appreciation for both of these fine universities.

With the underlying Spirituality and Constitutions of the Loreto Sisters being Ignatian, Sister worked for many years with the Loyola Project, which was sponsored and run by the Jesuit priests at St. Francis Parish and Brophy Preparatory High School in Phoenix. Others projects she loved and volunteered her time for included teaching reading and language skills to children with English as their second language, a pen-pal program with prisoners dealing with anger management issues, and her many years of Pastoral Care work at Baptist Hospital and Palazzo Care Home.

The onset of Multiple Sclerosis, a condition which she bravely and cheerfully handled for more than 50 years, never stopped her from teaching, working, or helping others. To know Sr. Gabby was to love Sr. Gabby! With her bright smile, quick wit and joyful spirit she never met a stranger and was always surrounded by love wherever her scooter took her. She frequently wheeled her motorized chair into the classrooms at Ss Simon and Jude, sharing stories with the children and educating them about the wonderful Foundress of the Loreto Sisters, Venerable Mary Ward. The ‘Companions of Mary Ward’ Group was also blessed by her leadership and direction, and all members are so grateful for her love and her sharing of prayer and spiritual refreshment.

Sister Gabrielle was preceded in death by her parents, Austin and Bridie, and by her brothers, Gerry, Phil, Michael and Oliver. She is survived by her sister, Sister Concepta (Good Shepherd Order) and by her sister-in-law, Rita, and devoted nieces, nephews and cousins, who will mourn her loss, as will her Loreto Sisters and the clergy and staff of Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral and School, also, all those who were co-workers in education ministry and in her pastoral care ministry, her dear friends, her former students, and all who may have been blessed by her care and prayer in their times of ill-health.

Her wake was June 10, and her funeral was June 11 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

On Sunday, September 8, 2019, Mother Marie André Campbell, PCPA, Abbess of Our Lady of Solitude Monastery of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (The Desert Nuns) in Tonopah, AZ, is celebrating 25 years of Religious Life.

Mother Marie André Campbell, PCPA with Fergy.

June 24: the Birth of St. John the Baptist, 15 years ago the Monastery began!

June 8: a Desert Morning of Prayer and Discernment with Fr. Fred Adamson.

We welcome las Misioneras de la Misericordia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus de Parral, Chihuahua en Mexico! Three Sisters will arrive on Monday, August 12 to serve at St. Matthew’s Parish and School, beginning this month. One of the Sisters, Sr. Ana Maria, will be working full-time for the Tribunal of the Diocese.

Sr. Mary Eileen serves as the the Director of Faith Formation at Our Lady of Joy Parish and Sr. Margery Therese serves in various ministries especially visitations. They have been warmly welcomed by an abundantly generous Parish community. The Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate were founded in New York City by Mother Mary Teresa Tallon on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1920. Now their Motherhouse is in Monroe, NY, about an hour north of the city by the Hudson River. The Parish Visitors will be celebrating their 100th Anniversary on August 15, 2020!

In imitation of the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd, Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate combine a contemplative prayer life with missionary visitation to parish families, and religious instruction. Parish Visitor Sisters visit families and individuals where they live, door to door as well as along the way, in order to win souls for Christ.

Loreto Sisters at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral celebrate 65 years in Phoenix!

On August 22, the Loreto Sisters (IBVMs) will celebrate 65 years since they arrived in Phoenix to serve and live at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral School. Bishop Olmsted will celebrate this anniversary with the Holy Mass on that day at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral at 8:30 a.m. followed by a reception in the Hall.

Group photo of the Loreto Sisters from their 60th Anniversary blessing at the Cathedral.

The Nazareth House: A Minor Seminary opens August 14 at St. Gregory’s !

This August 14, Fr. Paul Sullivan (the new Rector of the Nazareth House), Fr. Vinhson Nguyen (Assistant Vocation Director & Spiritual Director), Fr. David Loeffler (Spiritual Director), Transitional Deacon Estevan Wetzel and 6 new seminarians will be moving in the Nazareth House for the priestly formation of the new seminarians. The seminarians will be studying at Phoenix College while undergoing intense preparation for the major seminary. Please pray for our Priests and seminarians!

As we celebrate the beauty of Consecrated Life in Phoenix and renovations, we remember that August 14th is the Feast Day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv.

Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, I made a Day of Prayer at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown in Mundelein, IL to prepare for a National Assembly of the National Council of Vicars for Religious, of which I am a member and a leader. This Shrine is an incredibly beautiful pilgrimage site, not only with a perpetual adoration Chapel that was founded in the early 1900s to pray for Vocations, but also with a historical exhibit on the religious life and martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe. With enthusiasm, I recommend all of you to visit this Shrine. Here are a few photos:

Portrait of St. Maxilimial Kolbe, OFM Conv.

Please pray for Consecrated Life in our nation. In a particular way, I ask you to pray for the LCWR National Assembly that will be held in Scottsdale, AZ this coming week.

On Friday evening of February 1st, the Vigil of the Feast of the Presentation, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares celebrated a Candlemas for the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life to honor the Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests of the Diocese of Phoenix. Sixty-five Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests gathered with the lay faithful. The Mass was very well attended with about 200 in the congregation that first gathered outdoors at the foot of the Cross in front of the Cathedral for the Blessing of the Candles.

Bishop Eduardo Nevares, assisted by Deacon Tony Smith and the altar servers, blessed the candles that would be lit for the procession into the completely dark Cathedral.

On January 11, 2019, Bishop Olmsted was the main celebrant for the Mass and First Profession of Vows of Sr. Viviana de la Inmaculada Lopez, Missionary Carmelite Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus from Puebla, Mexico. The First Profession of Vows took place at Saint Daniel the Prophet Parish in Scottsdale, AZ, where the US Novitiate is located. Here are pictures from this wonderful and joyous occasion:

Bishop Olmted with Sr. Viviana Lopez (left) and her family (parents, 4 Sisters and 1 brother).

Sr. Viviana de la Inmaculada Lopez makes her First Profession of Vows:

On Sunday, January 20, 2019, in the evening, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur celebrated the Solemn Vows of Sr. Sarah Cieplinski, a vocation from Phoenix, while on a visit with her family. The celebration took place at the Crosier’s Priory in South Phoenix. Sr. Sarah made her Final Profession of Vows at their Convent in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sr. Sarah Cieplinski, SNDdN

Photo of Sr. Sarah Final Profession of Vows in St. Julie’s Chapel in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Happy Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese woman who was a slave, a trafficked woman and virgin who gained her freedom consecrating herself to Our Lord. Her story inspires us all as we follow Christ with lamps lit giving great hope in this dark world.

“If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today… The Lord has loved me so much: we must love everyone… we must be compassionate!”

JOSEPHINE BAKHITA

In 1869, a little girl was born in Sudan in Africa. As a child she was kidnapped into slavery. This experience was so frightening that she could not even remember her name. So, her kidnappers named her Bakhita. The name Bakhita means “fortunate.”

An Italian official, Callisto Legnani, purchased Bakhita. For the first time since she had been kidnapped, she was treated with care, rather than being beaten. When the time came for the Italian consul to return to Italy, he brought Bakhita with him. Once there, Legnani left Bakhita with Augusto Michieli and his wife. When the Michieli’s daughter, Mimmina, was born, Bakhita became her caretaker and friend.

When the Michielis went to Suakin to run their large hotel, they left both Mimmina and Bakhita with the Canossian Sisters at a convent in Venice. It was there that Bakhita came to know about God. When the Michielis returned, Bakhita asked to remain at the convent with the Sisters. She became a Catholic and was given the name “Josephine.”

On December 8, 1896, Josephine Bakhita became a Sister at the convent and committed her life to God forever. For the next 50 years, she served the Schio convent community by cooking, sewing, and attending to the door. When she was on duty at the door, her friendly, sweet voice was pleasing to children, comforting to the poor, and encouraging to others.

As she grew older, Mother Bakhita suffered greatly in sickness. She died on February 8, 1947, at the Canossian convent in Schio, surrounded by the other Sisters. She was named a saint of the Church on October 1, 2000, by Pope John Paul II.

May this merciful virgin Saint teach us to forgive and be compassionate!

As we celebrate the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, I want to wish all of you a blessed Christmas Season and New Year, may your hearts be filled with joy, peace and love! This time of year is one in which the light of Christ illumines brightly giving us wisdom.

St. Thomas Aquinas speaks eloquently of wisdom:

“Among all human pursuits, the pursuit of wisdom is more perfect, more noble, more useful, and more full of joy.

It is more perfect because, in so far as a person gives himself to the pursuit of wisdom, so far does he even now have some share in true beatitude. And so a wise man has said, Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom (Sir 14:20).

It is more noble because through this pursuit man especially approaches to a likeness to God who made all things in wisdom (Ps 104:24). And since likeness is the cause of love, the pursuit of wisdom especially joins man to God in friendship. This why it is said of wisdom that she is an infinite treasure to people which they that use become the friends of God (Wis 7:14).

It is more useful because through wisdom we arrive at the Kingdom of immortality. For the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom (Wis 6:21).

It is more full of joy because her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness (Wis 8:16).

And so, in the name of the divine mercy, I have the confidence to embark upon the work of a wise man, even though this may surpass my powers, and I have set myself the task of making known, as far as my limited powers will allow, the truth that the Catholic faith professes, and of setting aside the errors that are opposed to it. To use the words of Hilary: “I am aware that I owe this to God as the chief duty of life, that my every word and sense may speak of him.”

~St. Thomas Aquinas (+ 1274) was a Dominican Priest from Italy. He remains one of the Church’s premier Doctors.

The Gift of a Diocesan Hermit: a Life Dedicated to Growing in Wisdom and Grace

Saturday, December 1, 2018, on the Feast of Blessed Charles de Foucauld – Fr. Eugene Florea, a Diocesan Priest of Phoenix, was Consecrated as the first Diocesan Hermit, and he made First Profession of Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, committing himself to a Carmelite Rule of life. He received a modified Carmelite habit and a religious name: Fr. Eugene Mary of the Trinity.

Here are some photos from his Consecration at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix.

God bless you, and happy Feast Day of St. Andrew, Patron Saint for Vocations since he introduced many, including his brother, Peter, to follow Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Humbly being transparent in his discipleship and service to Jesus, St. Andrew is a great model for us to bring others to Jesus Christ, to know Him, love Him and be loved by Him.

On Sunday, October 28, the Feast of Ss. Simon and Jude, we had a vibrant 4th Annual Vocations Celebration Fair at Most Holy Trinity Parish in Phoenix with Religious Sisters and many families. The Sisters and Fathers of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity (SOLT) helped host this life-giving gathering of children, families and Religious Sisters to celebrate Vocations. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted was the main celebrant of the 10:00 a.m. Mass, and he preached on the gift of being called to become holy. God has a plan for each of us to become a Saint. The children were invited to come to the Fair dressed up as a Saint with the awareness that God is calling each of them to become a Saint. How important it is for each son and daughter of God to ask , “How is it that You, Lord, are calling me to become a Saint? What is Your plan for me, Lord, to live a holy life? What is my vocation?”

Zoe Faustina Zuk, dressed up as St. Gianna Molla, won a basket. Her mom, Kelly Zuk, is expected to have a baby very soon on Christmas Day! Thanks be to God!

Fr. Fernando Camou presents a big reward to a very happy and grateful Saint Anthony of Padua.

Congratulations!

A great time was had by all, and there will be more to come. Don’t miss out on next year’s Vocation Celebration Fair. Come and join the family at St. Andrew’s in Chandler!

A double rainbow brightens a rainy day in Phoenix, Arizona, the Valley of the Sun!

Remember the Fidelity of Jesus: Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Family. This is the theme of the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese of Phoenix which we are celebrating this year up to the date of the Anniversary of the Diocese, December 2, 2019. The rainbow is a sign of God’s Covenant with His People, and He will be faithful forever. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Creator and Redeemer is always faithful – yesterday, today and forever. As we begin the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese this Sunday, December 2, let us have deep gratitude and joy for God’s love and fidelity to us. His Mercy endures forever. Let us always be faithful as we are led by Our Father in Heaven to be holy.

Let us thank God for the many reasons to celebrate in this new autumn season of 2018! As we continue to pray for our beloved Church, let us celebrate the Canonization of Ss. Pope Paul VI and Oscar Romero who were canonized in Rome on Sunday, October 14. Here is a link to Pope Francis’ homily from the Canonization Mass of these shining lights:

Just recently in this month of October, we had wonderful news of new assignments for Religious communities here in the Diocese of Phoenix:

The Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate from New York (Sr. Mary Eileen Jewell, PVMI and Sr. Margery Therese Harkin, PVMI) are now serving in adult faith formation, catechesis and evangelization at Our Lady of Joy Parish in Carefree, AZ.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame (Sr. Patricia Gehling, SSND and Sr. Ann Marley, SSND) are serving in the Parish Office of Christ the King Parish in Mesa, AZ.

The Eucharistic Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Los Angeles are establishing a new foundation and convent at Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood, serving as bilingual Religious educators at Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood, AZ and Saint John Vianney Parish in Sedona, AZ. They are a great blessing for us!

Grand Opening and Dedication of St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Avondale

On August 21, we had the grand opening and dedication of St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Avondale. The first day was on August 13 with Freshman and Sophomore Classes. Sister Mary Jordan Hoover, OP is the principal accompanied by 3 of her Sisters, serving as the leadership of this wonderful school which is forming our children well.

St John Paul II Catholic High School grand opening and blessing on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 in Avondale, Arizona.

St John Paul II Catholic High School grand opening and blessing on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 in Avondale, Arizona.

St John Paul II Catholic High School grand opening and blessing on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 in Avondale, Arizona.

The weekend of September 7-9, we celebrated the 85th Anniversary of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Arizona, beginning in Tucson and thriving in Phoenix, AZ. On Friday evening, I joined the celebration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Scottsdale, AZ. Sister Mary Elizabeth Lawrence, SC was playing the steel drums. Hearing her play reminded me of the music of the Caribbean Islands.

Representation of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill from Greensburg, PA.

Recently, I made a trip to Our Lady of the Rosary Dominican Convent in San Jose, CA. They have beautiful stained glass windows in their chapel of Dominican Saints as well as a small shrine to Mary, Mother of God, Mater Dei. The roses there are breathtaking!

Did you know that two years ago on June 29, 2016, Pope Francis wrote an Apostolic Constitution on Women’s Contemplative Life, Vultum Dei Quaerere? Prepárate…

Pope Francis with Las Servidoras del Señor y de la Virgen de Matará

“Consecrated persons, by virtue of their consecration, ‘follow the Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way’. They are called to recognize the signs of God’s presence in daily life and wisely to discern the questions posed to us by God and the men and women of our time. The great challenge faced by consecrated persons is to persevere in seeking God “with the eyes of faith in a world which ignores his presence”, and to continue to offer that world Christ’s life of chastity, poverty and obedience as a credible and trustworthy sign, thus becoming “a living ‘exegesis’ of God’s word”. ~Pope Francis

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost this Sunday, let us rejoice that the Lord has chosen us to follow Him and be configured to His Son, Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit touch all our hearts, purifying us and sanctifying us to become holy. Holy Spirit, come into our hearts and minds, inflame in us the fire of Your Love.

On Saturday, May 5, 2018, the West Valley Serra Club hosted a beautiful Religious Appreciation Dinner at the Diocesan Pastoral Center where we honored 22 Sisters celebrating Jubilee Anniversaries from 25 years up to 75 years of Religious Life!

Thursday, May 10, Sr. Rita, SHS and Sr. Rael, SHS, two Council members of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus came for visitation from war-torn South Sudan. They were welcomed by Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Fr. Robert Aliunzi and myself.

On Saturday, May 12, there was a special Silver Jubilee Mass at St. James Parish in Glendale for the celebration of Sr. Betty Banja’s 25 Anniversary of Religious Vows and Fr. Benedict’s 25th Anniversary of Priesthood. Bishop Nevares celebrated the Mass, and there were many present for the great celebration Mass and reception. Sr. Betty Banja renewed her vows, Fr. Benedict shared his vocation story and Bishop Olmsted was present for the dinner celebration after Mass. It was glorious!